Freight-car.



No. 654,896. Patented July 3|, I900.

S. J.J0 HNSON.

FREIGHT CAR.

(Application filed Jan. 9, 1900.)

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THE cams PETERs co. worn-urn)" WASHINGTON, n, c.

ITED STATE-s I PATENT Curios,

SINCLAIR J. JOHNSON, or NUrLnv, New JERSEY;

@FRi Q-Ht- A sr sorrroarron forming part of Letters Patent No. 654,896, dated 3e13, 31,1900;

Application filed January 9, 1900. Serial No. 81? (No model.) 7

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, SINCLAIR J. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing in Nutley, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Freight-Cars, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to freight'rcars; and it more particularly relates to the construction of the door and the door-casing thereof, one object of the invention being to provide an improved door and doorway in which the swelling or expansion of the door and of the side walls of the car adjacent'to the doorway will not interfere with the proper closing or opening of the door, while the contraction or shrinkage of the body or woodwork of either of saids parts will not affect the proper size of the door or of the doorway A further object of the invention is to provide those edges of the door and of the ear wall adjacent to the doorway subject to the effect of swelling or shrinkage, usually the side edges of such parts, with means adapted to permit the swelling and contractionof the body or Woodwork of the parts while always maintaining the same size of the door and its doorway. l

A further object of the invention is toprovide the body of a door and thecar-wall at the doorway thereof with margin or boundary portions made of material not subject to shrinkage or swelling to a material degree, and each secured to a part free of appreciable shrinkage or swelling. in a direction to shift the relations of the margin or boundary portions, each ofsaid margin portions being constructed to overlap the side of its respective member to an extent sufficient to prevent the formation of an opening or gap intermediate such margin portion and the edge of its respective member when such member is shrunk to its greatest amount which occurs in practice. a

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure l is a side view of a portion of a car-body and one form of door supported thereon flush with the carwall. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken in line 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken in line 3 3, Fig. 1, and looking downward. Fig. t isa detail view of a part of one of the shaped irons secured to the edge of the door and the car wall adjacent to the doorway.

Similar characters of reference designate like parts in all the figures of the drawings; In the manufacture and use of freight=cars it is a well-known fact that the swelling or expansion of the car-door and also of the carwall at each side of the door is such that it is frequently necessary to use a crowbar in order to open the same, to the material injury of the door and its casing, it being practically impossible to provide a flush car-door that will not become wedged in the doorway or so swollen after the same has remained open for a short time as to prevent its fitting therein. At times also the shrinkage or contraction of the door and this part of the car-wall is such that a large opening or space is formed between the door and its casing. To avoid these objectionable features, I have provided means which when assembled with those edges of the door and car-wall contiguous to such doorway that are subject to the efiect of swelling or shrinkage, usually the side edges thereof, furnishes an improved organization which permits the swelling and shrinkage of the body or woodwork of both the door and the carwall,while always maintaining the same without affecting the proper size of the door or of the doorway, so that the opening or closing of the door is permitted at all times without interference and without the necessity of usinga crowbar.

In the present structure the door is shown as being shiftable outward and upward into position to be moved on a track away from the doorway, it being understood, however, that other organizations may be used, if de* sired.

The means for moving the door from its flush position in the doorway into position to be moved away from such doorway is shown herein as substantially similar tothat provided in my contemporaneously-pending application, filed July 31, 1899, Serial N 0.

725,642, and therefore a'further description thereof is not deemed necessary, since the door-actuating means shown is not essential to the present improvement.

' The door-casing comprises a door-lintel 2,

adoor-sill 3, both of some suitable construe tion, and door-posts 4, each of whichpostsis shown herein recessed :or rabbeted in such manner that the ends of the cross-bars or. battens 5 of the door (which are not subject to the eifect of appreciable endwise swelling or shrinkage) will fit therein and permit the a door to be flush "with .the side wall of the-car.

'ter described. r

The door, formed'in some suitable manner and having the usualcross bars or battens-5,;

has each edge subject to the efiect of swell- 1 ing #10! shrinkage, usually'the side edges in the form of--doer *shown herein, provided with "means which while permittingtheswellingor shrinka'ge of the body or woodworkof thedoer willalways maintain the same size of ithe door as-a whole, :and which :means in .the ,presentinstance comprises a shaped iron Z (shown-in one form-thereof asachannel-iron' onmember/Z) zof some suitable materialnot apl wpreciab'lyaifected by atmospheric-changes for instance, metal-one flange v7 of which "channel-iron is shown herein wider than the other :flange .7" -thereof,' whereby a relativelywide bearing su-rface isobtained forsecurin g the iron in position. ,These channel-irons are secured to the door insuch manner that the outer faces8rofthe webs 8 determine the l proper width "of the doorand will preferably i be flush with the ends 10f the battens, the

"flanges l'beingsecured to the battens in thei fornrof doorshown and intermediate such battens and the innerside of the door, :a?

' space 8" beingformed intermediate such-web 2 Sandztheiedge of ,the door when the body or woodwork thereof :is in its normal condition or=contractedrand which spaceissufficientzto i permit the usual amount of swelling of the l door-woodwork. The'flange 17- is-formedsuf- 1 ficiently wide to permit the usualamountofi shrinkageprcontraction of the bodyorwood- 1 work of the door without the :formation of an a opening or gap intermediate the edge of the I 3 channe'hiron :flange and theedge-of-the door-1 woodwork. From the foregoing it :will be? seen that the bodypr woodwork of thedoo 'ri, at tthe side edges thereof is inclosed by a;pair of *metaljl-iccasings, so that at 'no time \Will';

i the swellin-grof such woodwork prevent the door from being readily shifted into aposi-l tie-n -sor-outwof theidoorw ay, while i-thershrinik- I: age' iof such woodwork will not decrease the; proper size of ethe 1100! as ;a whole. Since the swetling or shrinkage of the car-wall? is :usually considerable. 2841 13116 sides of the doorway, "the edges :orxsides of (such wall? subiject to the eifect of swelling and shrin ki age ands'howz'n therein1asthe side-ed ges there- 4 of, are also provided with channel-irons simi= lar to those above described and each of which is secured to the posts 4 and intermediate the inner side of the wall and the doorpost 4 in substantially the same manner as that above described to form a space a, whereby the swelling and shrinkage of the woodwork of the car-wall can take place Without increasing ordecreasing the size of the doorway, so that the door can always be readily seated in its doorway or shifted out thereof without interference. Thespace 8" or 8" is shown in the present instance, owing to the particular-shaped iron used, as a closed space and is of sufficient area to permit the woodwork to swellor'shrink to the usual extent withouta'fiectingthesize of :the doorway or door. From the :foregoing itwil'l be seen that theoute'r faces-of the webs of the (channel-irons of ithe doorand doorwayrare comparatively close together,aand when'the-woodwork shrinks no opening will zb'ezformed between such irons and ;the-'car, although the spaces 8-or8 may berconsiderable. -"By th'e provision of this metallic casing forthedoor and car-wall it will :be seen that ethe edges of suchicas'ing and door :are protected frombei-ng splintered or broken andialsovfrornbe- 'comi'ng iworn, while :the *swelling andshrinkage "of the body or 'woo'dwork of the'door and of the car-wall are provided for, :so tha'tathe door canalwayszfit'fiush in the doorway without becoming wedged or jam-med "therein.

In conclusion Idesire to statetha'tpi'f preferred, shaped irons -zother z than the channelirons shown may be used :and such channel erotherirons may be secured in position in any desired manner to accomplish theflpur- :pose set forth.

t ,It is-to be'unders-tood thatthesch'aninelsirens are secured vvadjacent ftO "those edges of the door :and :car wall that are subject to "the {effect of swelling or shrinkage, whether-thisibe the sideor top or:bottom edges of "the door-or IIO doorway, :so that the term -"side:or ---edges as :used in the claims is to he read m' thfithis interpretation.

Having described :m y invention, 1I1'c1'aiml. The combination, in a door, of a doors m'argin-iorboundary portionmade ofm'aterial not subject to shrinkage or swelling ftoaxmaterialdegree,andsecuredato a-ipart freeiof appreciable shrirrkageiorsswelling in aidir'ection to ishi'ft'ztherelations of itheemangin 'oribound-i any portion, and a body portion lhaytng :free

; relation ;tosuch boundary portion or margin.

vto permit "the swelling or shrinkage of said body portion and adapted to engage SIi'Oh margin or boundary portion intermediateithe iouterand inneredgesrofsuchm'arg inmortion when :in engagement therewith.

;2 The combination, in ,a-rdoor, no'f a doermargin or boundary'portion madeof 'smateria'l not subject tozslrrinkage :orswelting it-oya material degreeandsecured'toa gpart (free Lo'fappreciable shrink-age I or-swelli-n g in a direction to :shift the relations cif the-margin -:orbound-' V ary portion, and a body portion having free relation to such boundary portion or margin to permit the swelling or shrinkage of said body portion, said margin lapping a side of said body portion to an extent equal to the difference in dimensions of the door when swollen and when shrunk to the greatest amount which occurs in practice.

3. The combination, in a door, of a doormargin or boundary portion made of material not subject to shrinkage or swelling to a material degree and secured to-a part free of appreciable shrinkage in a direction to shift the relations of the margin or boundary portion, and a body portion having free relation to such boundary portion or margin to permit the swelling or shrinkage of said body portion, said margin lapping both sides of said body portion to an extent equal to the difierence in dimensions of the door when swollen and when shrunk to the greatest amount which occurs in practice.

4. A car-door comprising a body and margin or boundary means comprising shaped irons each secured to a part free of appreciable shrinkage or swelling in a direction to shift the relations of said margin or boundary means, and each in position to form a space intermediate thereof and said bod y when such body is in its normal condition or contracted and adapted when in engagement with such body to engage it intermediate the outer and inner edges of said margin means.

5. A car-door the body of which has each edge subject to the effect of atmospheric changes, provided with a shaped iron secured in position free of such body and lapping the.

- side of said body to an extent at least equal to the dimensions of the door when swollen and when shrunk to the greatest amount which occurs in practice, whereby the door is permanently of the same size whether the body thereof be in a shrunken or swollen condition.

6. A car-door the body of which has each edge subject to the effect of atmospheric changes provided with a channel-iron secured in position free of such body and lappingthe side of the body to an extent at least equal to the difference in dimensions of the body when swollen and when shrunk to the greatest amount which occurs in practice, whereby the door is permanently of the same size whether the body thereof be in a shrunken or swollen condition.

7. A car-door the body ofwhich has each edge subject to the eifect of swelling or shrinkage provided with a metallic device overlapping the inner and outer sides thereof to an extent at least equal to the difference in dimensions of the body when swollen and when shrunk to the greatest extent which occurs in practice, thereby forming a space at the edge of such door when in its normal condition or contracted, said device having one part thereof of greater width than another part thereof.

8. A car-Wall having a doorway and a doorway margin or boundary portion made of material not subject to shrinkage or swelling to a material degree and secured to a part free of appreciable shrinkage or swelling in a direction to shift the relations of the margin or boundary portion, said wall having free relation to such boundary portion, the organization being such that the same size of the doorway is permanently maintained Whether the car-wall be in a shrunken or swollen condition.

9. A carwall having a doorway and a doorway-margin or boundary portion made of material not subject to shrinkage or swelling to a material degree and secured to a part free of appreciable shrinkage or swelling in a direction to shift the relations of the margin or boundary portion, said wall having free relation to such boundary portion, and said margin lapping a side of said wall to an extent at least equal to thedifference in dimensions of the door when swollen and when shrunk to the greatest amount which occurs in practice, the organization being such that the same size of the doorway is permanently maintained whether the car wall be in. a shrunken or swollen condition.

' 10. A car-wall havinga doorway and a doorway-margin or boundary portion made of material not subject to shrinkage or swelling to a material degree and secured to a part'free of appreciable shrinkage or swelling in a di-' rection to shift the relations of the margin or boundary portion, said wall having free rela tion to such boundary portion, and said margin lapping both sides of said wall to an extent at least equal to the dimensions of the wall when swollen and when shrunk to the greatest amount which occurs in practice,

whereby the same size of the doorway is pertent sufficient to prevent the formation of a' gap or opening between said means and the edge of the wall when under contraction, and thereby forming a closed space when such wall is in its normal condition or contracted, the organization being such that the same size of the doorway is permanently maintained while providing for the swelling or shrinkage of the woodwork of the wall.

12. A car-wall having a doorway, a plurality of the edges of which wall contiguous to such doorway are provided with channelirons, each so secured in position as to form a closed space between the web of suchiron and the edge of the wall when the latter is in its normal condition or contracted, and thereby prevent the formation of a gap or opening between such iron andthe edge of the wall.

' J that.

1'3. A car-wall having a doorway, each edge of which wall subject to the efiect of swelling or shrinkage, is provided with a metallic device overlapping the inner and outer sides of such wall and forming a closed space at the edge thereof when the wall is in its normal conditioner contracted,and thereby pre-, vent the formation of a gap between such do: vice and the edgeof the wall, said device.h'av-.

ing one part of greater width than another part thereof. a

14. A car-wall providedtwith a doorway and a door, each edge of whichdoor and wallcont'iguous to such doorway and subject to the effect of swelling or shrinkage, is provided with" a channel-iron located to form a closed space at such edge when the woodwork is in its normalcondition or contracted, and there-t by prevent the formation of a gap between such iron and the edge of such part.

15. A car-wall provided with a doorway and a door, each edge of which door and wallcontiguous to such doorway and subject to the efiect of swelling or shrinkage, is provided with means located to form a space at such edgewhen the woodwork is in its normal con:

dition or contracted. p

16-. A car-wall having a doorway each edge of which wall contiguous to such doorway'and subject to the eflfect of swelling or shrinkage is provided with a shaped iron so secured in position as to form a space between the web of such iron and the edge of the wall when such wall is in its normal condition or contiacted.

f 17. A car-wall having a doorway and side posts and a doorway-margin portion free from a tendency to shrink or swell, secured to each of said posts and efiective to always maintain I the same size of the doorway while permitting the swelling or shrinkage of said wall.

- 18. A car-wall having a doorway; apost located at eachside of said doorway; and a shaped iron secured to eachof. said posts and adapted to project in parallelism with the edge of such wall to always maintain the same size of the doorway while permitting theswelling or shrinkage of the car-wall.

1 19. A car-wall provided with a doorway having side posts lapped by said car-wall, anda maintaining the same size of said doorway-margin portion forming a'jamb mem her free from a tendencyto shrinkor swell secured to each of said posts, each of said amb members lapping the wall while free thereof so as to permit the swelling or shrinkage of ing a doorway, and a door-therefor comprising a body, said doorway and body each having margin means free ot'material shrinkage .orswelling and securedto parts free of a preciable shrinkage or swelling in a direction to shift the relations ofsaid margin means,

'isaid'margin means being free of said wall and bod y,thereby to permit the swelling or shrinkage of said wall and body while permanently door and doorway. V

22. A car structure comprising a wall hav-- ing a doorway, and a doortherefor comprising a body, said doorway and body each having margin. means free of material shrinkage or swelling and secured to parts free of appreciable shrinkage or swelling in a direction to shift the relations of said margin means, said margin means being free of said wall and body, thereby to permit the swelling or shrinkage of said wall and body while permanently maintaining the same size of saiddoor and'doorway, and each such margin means overlapping its respective member,

thereby to prevent the formation of a gapor opening between said margin means and said member when such member contracts.

' SINCLAIR J. JOHNSON.- Witnesses;

O. A. WEED, F. N. CHASE; 

